News

Wind turbines turn over ex-colliery

A new energy wind park has officially opened at Oakdale. Pictured is a MM100 wind turbine capable of powering over 200 homes. (6864904)

A new energy wind park has officially opened at Oakdale. Pictured at the opening from left Cllr Keith Reynolds, CEO Stephen Ainger, Mayor and Consort of Caerphilly, Alun Davies AM and Cllr Ken James. (6864980)

TWO 130-metre-high wind turbines have been installed in Oakdale – the first commercial wind farm to open with the co-operation of a Welsh council.

The turbines, with 50-metre blades, are among the largest in Wales and are the first commercial installation of the new model Senvion MM100 turbines in Europe.

Part of the Oakdale Business Park built on the former Oakdale Colliery, they are expected to power the equivalent of 2,400 homes (10 gigawatt-hours) per year, an annual CO2 emissions saving of around 4,400 tonnes.

The 400-acre brownfield site was once used as a mine, employing almost 2,000 people in its heyday. But the decline in coal mining fortunes forced its closure in 1989 after 81 years in operation.

The council said it put no money into the development, with Partnerships for Renewables entering into a 25-year lease agreement with them to rent the land on which the two turbines are located. “We would not disclose the amount as this is in commercial confidence,” a council spokesman said.

Partnerships for Renewables will also give £10,000 of funding per year to local projects as long as the wind farm is operating.

Councillor Ken James, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and sustainable development with Caerphilly, said: “Working with our partners and the wider community we have been able to embrace an alternative, more environmentally friendly way to produce energy.

“We are committed to making the Caerphilly County Borough a greener place to live, work and visit.”

This is the second installation Partnerships for Renewables has completed, following the launch of a site at Standford Hill prison in Kent last year.

Stephen Ainger, chief executive of Partnerships for Renewables, said: “Onshore wind is not only the cheapest form of renewable energy but can deliver significant economic benefit to local communities.

“We hope our Oakdale scheme will act as a beacon for other public/private partnerships, helping Wales to deliver its renewable energy ambitions.”

Comments (6)

"the decline in coal mining fortunes forced its closure in 1989."
Not so, it was Thatcher's ideological war with the National Union of Mineworkers that closed it. There were still millions of tons of saleable coal in Oakdale pit, but by running down the entire industry the government of the time all but destroyed the local community.

"the decline in coal mining fortunes forced its closure in 1989."
Not so, it was Thatcher's ideological war with the National Union of Mineworkers that closed it. There were still millions of tons of saleable coal in Oakdale pit, but by running down the entire industry the government of the time all but destroyed the local community.Sweet Charity

As I have stated previously why don't Caerphilly cbc have these in penalta or maesycwmmer? Oakdale have enough electricity pylons without these as well. Oakdale want facilities, the institute was given to st fagans, oakdale hospital was sold for housing and (the oakdale miners paid for them) they should have been given to the community who paid for them. The public toilets were demolished and the hotel boarded up. Endless housing estates with poorly constructed houses (especially behind oakdale garage) in oakdale but still no facilities.

As I have stated previously why don't Caerphilly cbc have these in penalta or maesycwmmer? Oakdale have enough electricity pylons without these as well. Oakdale want facilities, the institute was given to st fagans, oakdale hospital was sold for housing and (the oakdale miners paid for them) they should have been given to the community who paid for them. The public toilets were demolished and the hotel boarded up. Endless housing estates with poorly constructed houses (especially behind oakdale garage) in oakdale but still no facilities.gingertom

I can see these monstrosities from my lounge, currently one is turning, the other rigidly prone. Wrong type of wind? They hardly ever turn in unison but remain quite still on most days. What a waste of time, money, effort.

I can see these monstrosities from my lounge, currently one is turning, the other rigidly prone. Wrong type of wind? They hardly ever turn in unison but remain quite still on most days. What a waste of time, money, effort.Realist UK

"expected to power the equivalent of 2,400 homes (10 gigawatt-hours) per year, an annual CO2 emissions saving of around 4,400 tonnes." - Surely this is best case scenario? I would like to see proper projection figures for this.

"expected to power the equivalent of 2,400 homes (10 gigawatt-hours) per year, an annual CO2 emissions saving of around 4,400 tonnes." - Surely this is best case scenario? I would like to see proper projection figures for this.arethereanyusernamesleft